f.ROCR-H-B'^EBOOR 



LORi) ■ - 




Class ^IS^^iB- 



Book 



Copyright }^°.. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



The 
Rock-a-bye Book 

And a Bag of Dreams 



CHILDREN'S LTRICS BT 
WILLUM SINCLAIR LORD 




New Tork Chicago Toronto 

Fleming H, Revel I Company 

London and Edinburgh 



'for-. 



Copyright, 1905, by 
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 



^JSHARY of JCNGfitSS 
J wo Oopies rtwoivov 

AUG 22 iy05 

COPY B. 






New York: 158 Fifth Avenue 
Chicago: 80 Wabash Avenue 
Toronto: 27 Richmond Street, W. 
London: 21 Paternoster Square 
•Etiinburgh : 100 Princes Street 



CONTENTS 



A Little Child . 






1 


In Dreamland 






2 


Spanish Lullaby . 






• 3 


Swinging to Dreamland 






. 4 


Mother, Moon, and Stars . 






5 


Heigh-Ho ! My Laddie, O ! 






6 


The Sand-Man . 






7 


Rhyme of the Coverlet 






3 


TicK-TocK Lullaby 






9 


Swinging Song 






II 


The Wind's Song to a Babe 






13 


The Wind's Song to a Child 






14 


The Wind's Song to a Youth 






16 


Little Two- Years-Old 






17 


Three .... 






19 


A Four-Year-Old 






21 


Dream and Snowflake 






23 


The Song of the Clock 






24 


Sleep ...... 






25 


Little Mother-Two-Times . 






26 


V 









Contents 








The Naughty Boy 28 


When It Rains 






. 29 


Rowland's View . 






. 31 


Waiting for Snow 






• 32 


The Box of Sand 






33 


Christmas is Coming 






35 


Stumble Joe .... 






37 


Nautical Ned 






39 


My Rival .... 






41 


Grandmother's Sweetheart 






43 


Mother Goose .... 






45 


Suppose .... 






47 


The Penny .... 






49 


Thanksgiving 






51 


Jingle and Jangle 






53 



VI 



INDEX TO FIRST LINES 



A four-year-old's a baby 

A hammock gently swinging . 

A little child — so all have been 

Christmas is coming ! Oh, my ! Oh, my 

Come, little girl, put by your things 

Dear little boy, my little boy . 

Grandmother's sweetheart, here is a line 

Heigh-ho ! my laddie, O ! 

Her heart was all mine until he came along 

Hurrah for the lad ... 

Hush-a-by, baby, close thine eyes . 

I dipped my wing in the green-gray sea 

** If I have a penny, pray, what do I do with 

it?" 

I fill the sails of wonderful boats 
I sing of a toddling mariner chap 
Jingle and jangle are two little bells . 
Just back of the house, right under a tree 
Little Mother-Two-Times, here's a song for you. 
Little Two- Years-Old, my son 
vii 



21 
I I 

I 

35 

7 

23 

43 

6 

41 
H 

2 

13 

49 
16 

39 
53 
33 

26 

17 



Index to First Lines 



Look out, little boy ! Wherever you go 

Once I was naughty — ran away 

One ! Two ! Three ! 

Pretty, my Pedro, a bird of the sea . 

Rockaby, rockaby 

Sleep is the mystic river no mortal eye hath seen, 25 

Suppose you were reading some wonderful tome, 47 

Swing, baby, swing to Dreamland ... 4 

The moon is bending o'er the sea . . .5 

There's a book we all know and can quote by 

the page 45 

There's a little tired shoe and a little mussed 

frock ....... 9 

" Tick-tock ! tick-tock ! " . . . .24 

" To-morrow will be snow, mamma " . • 3^ 
Up-stairs in his trundle bed sleeps a child . -51 

When I see other children swing . . -31 

When it rains it seems as though . . .29 



Vlll 



A 



A LITTLE CHILD 

LITTLE child— so all have been, 
So all must be, who enter in 

The home below, the home on 

high. 
The glory of the earth and sky 
Such innocence alone can win. 



So Christ was born, the least in sin, 
And brought into this fret and din 

With power alone to feebly cry — 
A little child. 



Thus does the life of each begin 
Making the world to Heaven akin. 

Though age shall come and dim 

the eye, 
Though fortune favour or defy ; 
He's but a traveller at our inn — 
A little child. 



*^6 



T^he Rock-a-bye Book 



IN DREAMLAND 

HUSH-ArBY, baby, close thine eyes, 
Mother will sing sweet lullabies ; 
Softly the cradle will be rocked 
Till pretty eyelids sleep as locked, 
And you are away in Dreamland, 
In Dreamland. 

Hush-a-by, little one, daylight dies 
While I am singing lullabies. 
Where does it vanish, baby dear ? 
Into that land so far, so near, 

The land of sleep, called Dreamland, 
Called Dreamland. 

Hush-a-by, babe. What dims mine eyes 
While I am singing lullabies ? 
What if the darkness knew no day ! 
What if my darling stayed alway. 
To evermore dwell in Dreamland, 
In Dreamland I 



Spanish Lullaby 



SPANISH LULLABY 

(A. D. 1493) 

PRETTY, my Pedro, a bird of the sea 
Long ago brought a sweet message 
to me 
The waters are ever repeating : 
"Sweetheart," they're saying, *'a beautiful 

land 
Westward is waiting a queen to command ; 
From thither your lover sends greeting I " 

Pretty, my Pedro, your father unfurled 
Sail with Columbus to find a new world 

Afar where the sunset is glowing. 
Then I was fearful the future to scan ; 
Now I am hopeful with you, little man. 

And visions of promise are growing. 

Pretty, my Pedro, your sails, too, are set : 
Sleep, the Good Master, will guide you, my 
pet. 
To realms of beautiful splendour. 
Sure as your waking his coming w^ill be. 
Father to you, sweet, and husband to me, 
And lover so true and so tender. 
3 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



SWINGING TO DREAMLAND 



S 



WING, baby, swing to Dreamland ; 

There, sweet, in slumber go ; 
My song will blend in seemland 

With songs the angels know ; 
Thy hammock will be golden 

And like the crescent moon, 
And in its hollow holden 

Thou wilt be sailing soon. 

Go swinging, swaying, swinging, 

High up among the stars ; 
At mother's wish upspringing 

Shall sleep let down the bars ; 
Although thy hammock golden 

Is like the crescent moon, 
Thou wilt, in my arms holden. 

Wake bright and laughing soon. 




Mother, Moon, and Stars 



MOTHER, MOON, AND STARS 



T 



HE moon is bending o'er the sea, 
As I, my babe, bend over thee ; 
She rocks it gently to and fro, 
As 1 now rock you — so, and so ; 
The wind, her breath, sings softly, " Dear, 
Sleep sweetly, now, for I am near." 



The stars look down upon the lea. 
As I, my babe, look down on thee ; 
The earth's at rest ; they vigils keep. 
As I watch o'er thy peaceful sleep, 
And through the silence I can hear, 
" Sleep sweetly now, for we are near." 



The Rock-a-hye Book 



HEIGH-HO! MY LADDIE, O! 

HEIGH-HO ! my laddie, O ! 
'Tis bedtime now for dearie ; 
By-lo ! away we go 
To rest the limbs so weary. 
At last my boy grows tired of play 
That fills with joy the livelong day, 
And welcomes night when shadows gray 
From the underworld come stealing. 

Heigh-ho ! my laddie, O ! 

The stars a watch are keeping ; 
By-lo ! they're shining so 

To guard my boy while sleeping. 
And soon, relit, the world all new, 
With skies to match your eyes of blue, 
Another day will dawn for you. 
Every hour new joys revealing. 



The Sand-Man 



C 



THE SAND-MAN 

OME, little girl, put b}'^ your things, 
The sand-man comes this way, 
He'll soon pass by 
And you and I 
Will feel the spell he brings 
And say : 
Sleep till break of day. 

Dolly is sleepy : watch her head : 
The sand-man's on the way. 
She cannot sigh 
Nor close her eye, 
She gives a nod instead 

To say : 
Sleep till break of day. 

Ah, there he goes ! I caught him then 
As he came down this way. 
By yawn and sigh 
And sleepy eye 
I'd know his face again 

And say : 
Sleep till break of day. 

7 



/ 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



RHYME OF THE COVERLET 



R 



OCKABY, rockaby, 

Winter's in town — 
Cover the baby up warm. 
Under a drift of white wool soft as 
down 
What will he know of the storm? 

Rockaby, rockaby, 

Springtime is near. 
"When baby goeth to sleep 

Under this blossomy coverlet, dear, 
Let not a chill wind creep. 

Rockaby, rockaby, 

Summer unbars — 
Cover the baby aright. 

Under a canopy sprinkled with stars 
What will he know of the night ? 

Rockaby, rockaby, 

Autumn is bold — 
Cover him up like a king : 

Robes of purple and cloth of gold ; 
Tribute and service bring. 
8 



Tick-Tock Lullaby 



TICK-TOCK LULLABY 



THEEE'S a little tired shoe and a 
little mussed frock, 
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock ; 
And there on the floor lies a little limp 
sock, 
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock ; 
They're glad, I am sure, after going all day, 
To rest from the labour and pleasure of 

play, 

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. 

How quietly sleep comes — count the clock ! 

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock ; 
Comes in at the door with never a knock, 

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. 
With no one to greet him, welcomest guest ! 
He enters and giveth his dear ones rest, 

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. 



The Kock-a-bye Book 



Perhaps he is near us while we rock, 

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, 
And soon will disclose his wonderful stock, 

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. 
In exchange for thy store of weariness, 
His bag of dreams he will leave, I guess, 

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. 




Swinging Song 



A 



SWINGING SONG 



HAMMOCK gently swinging, 
A mother bends above ; 
She to her babe is singing 
With heart all full of love. 
The little maiden swaying 

Beneath the greenwood tree 
Has set her heart to saying, 
" Love me as I love thee." 

So swaying, swinging slowly. 

Her loved one to and fro, 
Her heart Tvith rapture holy 
Out to her babe doth go ; 
And while her thoughts are straying 

Among the days to be, 
Her heart is ever saying, 
" Love me as I love thee." 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



Another hammock swinging, 

A lover bends above, 
He to his sweetheart singing 

With heart all full of love ; 
The lovely maiden swaying 

Beneath the greenwood tree 
Has set his heart to saying, 
" Love me as I love thee." 

So swaying, swinging slowly 

His loved one to and fro. 
His heart with rapture holy 

Out to his love doth go ; 
And while his thoughts are straying 

Among the days to be, 
His heart is ever saying, 
" Love me as I love thee." 




12 



The Wind's Song to a Babe 



THE WIND'S SONG TO A BABE 

I dipped my wing in the green-gray sea, 
The drops I scatter are pearls to thee ; 
And each white pearl is dream on 
dream, 
For each is a drop of the slumber stream. 

And over and over I've kissed the clover, 
And kissed the dew ; a world-wide rover, 
From mountain and valley all sweets I bring 
To bless thy dreams while slumbering. 

Then sleep in the Tree-Top, baby mine ; 
Close those big brown eyes of thine. 
The clover bloom and the dream-pearl's spell 
I sing, my love, and all is well. 




13 



T^he Rock-a-bye Book 



THE WIND'S SONG TO A CHILD 



H 



URRAH for the lad 
In breeches clad, 
And a blouse like a sailor-man ! 
The boy for nie 
Is such as he, — 
I will give him a coat of tan ! 



How the ribbons flap 

On his sailor's cap 
As if they would blow away ! 

His curly head 

Looks well in bed, 
I will give him a nap each day. 

He's never afraid 

Of man or maid, — 
In that he is just like me. 

The water moans 

When he throws in stones, — 
We are one when he smites the sea. 

14 



The Wind's Song to a Child 

So hurrah for the lad 

In breeches clad, 
And a blouse like a sailor true I 

He's brave, he's free, 

He resembles me — 
I love him enough for two. 




The Rock-a-bye Book 



THE WIND'S SONG TO A YOUTH 

I FILL the sails of wonderful boats, 
I hurry them on, I hurry them on , 
And many a beautiful banner floats 
As I go wandering hither and yon ; 
The birds of paradise pour their throats, 
And fill the air with ravishing notes. 
Till all of the present is gone. 

The gilded clouds away in the west 

I bear along, I bear along ; 
The silver moon I rock to rest 

And send the moonlight with my song ; 
And all of the heart's desires the best 
I waft to thee in the Tree-Top nest 

For all to youth belong. 

O youth, sweet youth, with wondering 
eyes, 
I bid you see, I bid you see ; 
For all of the future is your prize, 

And all good things may come to thee ; 
The sunset cloud, the boat that flies. 
The songs of the birds of paradise. 
All, all are yours to be. 
i6 



Little Two-Tears-Old 



LITTLE TWO-YEARS-OLD 



L 



ITTLE Two- Years-Old, my son, 
Life for you has just begun ; 
Dew is fresh upon the grass 

All along the way you pass ; 

Every blade your dear feet press 

Gives a gentle, cool caress. 

Violets and buttercups 

Chronicle your downs and ups. 

Blue and gold, and gold and blue, 

Seemeth all the world to you. 

Little Two- Years-Old, too soon 
You will know the heat of noon. 
Dust along your path will lie. 
And the grass be sere and dry. 
Every blade will give a thrust. 
Cry and urge, " You must ! You must ! " 
Kose of flame with cruel thorn 
Best will tell the sweet pain borne. 
Eed and brown, and brown and red, 
Seems the world the sun overhead. 
17 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



Little Two- Years-Old, the light 
Softens when you say " good-night." 
Sweet the journey will be when 
You are almost home again. 
Every footstep brings you near 
Faces, voices, long held dear. 
Gentian blue and goldenrod 
Lead you onward up to God. 
Blue and gold, and gold and blue 
So the world will be to you. 




i8 



Three 



THREE 

ONE! Two! Three! 
Now where can the baby be ? 
Only the briefest while ago 
We went into ecstasies over his " crow." 
Then he was creeping about the floor, 
And into our hearts he went all four ! 
If then we had lost him, what had we 

done 
In the wonderful year of One ! 

One ! Two ! Three ! 

What a kidnapper Time can be ! 

He's stolen my little child away 

That spoke my name but yesterday. 

" Take all that I have of silver and gold. 

And give me again little Two- Years- 
Old "— 

Such reward I had offered to you, and to 
you, 

In the beautiful year of Two. 

19 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



One! Two! Three! 

'Tis God's sweet mystery 1 

Time's not a thief, but a bringer of joy, 

And has doubled my blessings in this 
dear boy. 

Oh, give me to love him, and do not 
refuse. 

Kind Fortune, what's needed for stock- 
ings and shoes ! 

To love him in wisdom, that he may love 
me 

Long years that may follow year Three ! 



t 



20 



A Four-Tear-Old 



A FOUR-YEAR-OLD 

AFOUR-YEAE-OLD'S a kaby 
Whatever you do or say. 
You may rig him out in a round- 
about 
And teach him the time of day ; 
As his muscles grow he will bluster and 
blow 
Till you think him an army of men ; 
Until short of breath you may " love him 
to death," 
And declare, " he's his father again," 
But, whether you will, he's a baby still. 
Whatever you do or say. 

A four-y ear-old's a baby. 

Whatever you do or say. 
He may run and shout and want to play out 

In the yard the livelong day ; 
He may put on his hat and his coat and all 
that 

21 



^he Rock-a-bye Book 



And button his shoes with a hook ; 
He may swagger and strut and pretend to 
be, but, 

No matter how big he may look, 
He's a baby still, whether you will. 

Whatever you do or say. 

A four-year-old's a baby. 

Whatever you do or say. 
You may call him a man, as a mother can, 

Seventy times a day ; 
If he cries when he's hurt, all covered with 
dirt 

You'll gather him up in your arms, 
Nor kisses refuse to cover the bruise 

And quiet his tearful alarms. 
For, whether you will, he's a baby still. 

Whatever you do or say. 



Dream and Snowjiake 



DREAM AND SNOWFLAKE 



D 



EAR little boy, my little boy, 
So sleepy, so sleepy. 
See the soft descending snow 
Glancing, dancing to and fro 
Just to pleasure thee, I know. 
Dear little boy, my little boy. 
So sleepy, so sleepy. 

Dear little boy, my little boy, 

So sleepy, so sleepy. 
Close thine eyes. Dost thou not see 
Visions fair as fair can be ? 
They are dreams come down to thee, 
Dear little boy, my little boy. 

So sleepy, so sleepy. 

Dear little boy, my little boy, 

So sleepy, so sleepy. 
Dreams and snowflakes downward fly ; 
Soon, too soon, they bid good-b3^e. 
Kiss the earth and mount the sky. 
Dear little boy, my little boy. 

So sleepy, so sleepy. 
23 



T^he Rock-a-bye Book 



THE SONG OF THE CLOCK 

"T I "MCK-TOCK! tick-tock!" 
I Sayeth the clock. 

JL " And time is a circle and knoweth 
no end : 
With hands ever busy, with face ever 

bright, 
I never shall fail thee by day or by night. 
An arm to uphold thee, an arm to defend. 
You ever shall find me your friend, your 
friend." 

"Tick-tock! tick-tock!" 
Sayeth the clock. 
" The minutes I measure are not of a size : 
The glad ones shall linger, the sad ones 

shall haste. 
But never a moment of all shall I waste ; 
And ever and ever, whatever the skies. 
Grows shorter the journey to paradise." 
24 



Sleep 



SLEEP 

SLEEP is a mystic river no mortal eye 
hath seen, 
With poppy flowers are nodding the 
banks it flows between ; 
It finds its source in silence where stars to- 
gether sing, 
And down to weary mortals the message 
hastes to bring. 

The boats upon its bosom, that float, an idle 

throng. 
Are dreams that to the rainbow or to the 

moon belong; 
They're drifting towards the harbour outside 

the port of day 
Where morning light will scatter each vision 

barque away. 



$ 



25 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



LITTLE MOTHER-TWO-TIMES 

LITTLE Mother-Two-Times, here's a 
soDg for you, 
Bravest little woman, sister mine ! 
There's a verse for Wilson, one for Katha- 
rine, too, 
(My I I think a daughter's pretty fine !) 
Here I'm sitting thinking of the days gone by 
When you wore a pinafore and " braids " ; 
How I used to tease you, how you used to 
cry — 
Not a farthing then cared I for maids. 

Little Mother-Two-Times, what a breathless 
race 
Time is running! running! — where are 
we? 
Such a little while ago something in your 
face 
Changed, and lo ! no longer you were 
free. 

26 



Little Mother-Two-Times 

Love then came and claimed you. You 
were glad to go. 
Ashen skies all suddenly were blue. 
Such a cup of happiness as mortals seldom 
know 
Then began to pour its gifts for you. 

Little Mother-Two-Times, the best, most 
precious gift 
Of God, is that of motherhood divine ; 
Clouds of pain and suffering it has the pow'r 
to lift. 
And oh ! the glory of it ! see it shine ! 
Oh, the little children ! their small impotent 
hands, 
Their helplessness, their need of tender 
love! 
Yet they hold us stronger than the strength 
of iron bands 
And make the home on earth like that 
above. 




27 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



THE NAUGHTY BOY 



O 



NCE I was naughty — ran away 
To see what I could see ; 
It was a horrid poky day — 
My mother punished me. 



She didn't whip me — wisht she had, 

So hard she left a mark ! 
She shut me up for being bad. 

The room was big and dark. 

It was so dark I thought I saw 
Strange creatures' awful eyes, 

And I was scared and couldn't draw 
My breath for screams and cries. 

I wisht something would gobble me. 

And so I didn't stir ; 
Then I'd be gone, and mother, she — 

Guess that would punish her ! 



^ 



28 



When it Rains 



WHEN IT RAINS 



WHEN it rains it seems as though 
The tiresome day would never 
go. 
Indoor games and indoor toys 
Are more for girls 'n they are for boys. 
Not much fun for me to play 
In the house the livelong day, 
Building blocks and 'tending store — 
When it rains it's such a bore ! 

When it rains, my mother says, 
The birds enjoy it anyways. 
Grass and trees and all such things 
As have their roots, or have their wings, 
Suffer for the lack of rain ; 
Boys, they, too, can suffer pain ! 
I'd enjoy it same as they 
If outdoors she'd let me play. 
29 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



When it rains she's 'fraid 111 get 
Shoes and stockings soaking wet. 
Like to take them off and go 
Paddling round, but she says, No. 
See the postman ! He don't care. 
Walks in water everywhere ! 
Guess I'll play it's raining here. 
Want a letter, mother, dear ? 



30 



Rowlafid's View 



ROWLAND'S VIEW 



W 



HEN" I see other children swing, 
No matter how they try, 
They never seem, by leagues and 
leagues, 
To swing so high as I. 



When I go swinging, 'tis so strange ! 

A little push will do, 
And I go sailing in the sky — 

My feet stick through the blue. 




31 



T^he Kock-a-bye Book 



WAITING FOR SNOW 

TO-MOKROW will it snow, 
mamma ? 
To-morrow w411 it snow ? '* 
" It comes from God, my eager child ; 
Praise Him, we may not know." 

" And did it snow last night, mamma ? 

And did it sqow last night?" 
" Whatever He sends, my precious one, 

Praise Him with all thy might." 

" To-morrow w^ll it snow, mamma ? 

To-morrow will it snow ? " 
" Full soon will winter come, mine own. 

And spring we may not know." 

" And did it snow^ last night, mamma ? 

And did it snow last night ? " 
** And if it did, my darling child, 

'T would make thy pathway white." 



The Box of Sand 



J 



THE BOX OF SAND 

UST back of the house, right under a 
tree, 
Is a box that is full of silver sand — 
Of sand that was washed by a saltless sea 

Till it rivals the white of a woman's hand ; 
And oat of that box of sand arise 

Such wonderful sights as never before 
Were spoken of lips or seen of eyes, 
And all within sight of our back door. 

There's an old pie-tin, with numberless 
holes, 

A shovel, a rake and an old tin can, 
A block of wood, and oh, dear souls ! 

In the midst of these is a working man ; 
He is busily making pies and cakes 

And digging and sifting and playing 
store, 
The which a hole in his stomach makes, 

Which he brings to fill at our back door. 

33 



The Rock-a-hye Book 



And all of the little folk living near 

Have heard of this wonderful box of sand, 
So full of treasures their hearts hold dear ; 

And in come trooping the busy band, 
Till the sands have forgotten the cruel sea 

And the waves that lashed the sounding 
shore, 
For the flood of laughter, the bubbling glee, 

That ripple and break by our back door. 




34 



Christmas is Coming 



CHRISTMAS IS COMING 

C^HKISTMAS is coming! Oh, my! 
Oh, my! 
A Look out, little man, don't cry ! 
Don't cry ! 
For Santa Glaus loveth a brave little boy, 
And surely remembers all such with a toy 
Or a game or a book 
Or a long candy crook — 
Never mind if j^our tumble did hurt, don't 
cry! 

Christmas is coming, and my little lad 
Will forget every troublesome bump he has 

had! 
It bringeth a balm for each bruise, and the 

smart 
Of the saddest of griefs for the time will 

depart. 

The joy of the bells 
In each bosom swells. 
For the goodness of giving makes every 



heart glad. 



35 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



Yes, Christmas is coming ! That wonderful 
day 

The children delight in is not far away. 

Then candies and cookies and wagons and 
sleds, 

And jumping- jacks, whistles, and dolls' lit- 
tle beds 

Are scattered abroad, 
And the children applaud 

Each treasure from Santa Claus' wonderful 
sleigh. 




36 



Stumble Toe 



STUMBLE TOE 

OOK out, little boy ! Wherever you 
go 
Remember the story of Stumble 
Toe. 



L 



There once was a dear little child (aA, me !) 
. he had 
could be. 



And he had ten toes that were straight as 



And every one was pink and white 
Where mother had kissed it morning and 

night ; 
And each little toe had a name {oJi^ woe !) 
And one had the name of Stumble Toe. 

Now one little toe was called Hippity Hop, 
And he'd run till the others would beg him 

to stop ; 
Another toe answered to Creepity Creep, 
And he never was still except when asleep ; 
And so on was christened each one in the 

row 
Till you came to the awkward Stumble 

Toe. 

37 



T^he Rock-a-hye Book 



Oh, he was as stubborn as stubborn could 

be I 
And he sulked till a trial and cross was he. 
A whipping at morning, a spanking at night. 
Were never enough to keep Stumble Toe 

right ; 
Till at last came disaster and tearful woe 
To crown the behaviour of Stumble Toe. 

The best of good children (oA, hut ifs sad /) 
Are sometimes quite naughty, although not 

real bad ; 
Their feet get so heavy they drag on the floor 
(And when they act that way they need one 

spank more — 
'Tis when they are naughty, sometimes, don't 

you know) 
And they're taken advantage of by Stumble 

Toe. 

Just how it was done I could never recall ; 

I distinctly remember a terrible fall. 

And a bump on the forehead, a bruise on 

the arm. 
And my heart standing still in fearful alarm. 
So look out, my darling ; wherever you go 
Remember the story of Stumble Toe. 
38 



Nautical Ned 



NAUTICAL NED 

I SING of a toddling mariner chap, 
With wide flowing trousers and sailor's 
cap; 
His little warm jacket, with buttons and 

braid, 
Bespeaks the bold rover to run a blockade. 
No longer miscall him — when all has been 

said, 
His name is not Edward, but Nautical Ned ; 
A wee little, free little fellow is he, 
And yet he's a regular man of the sea. 

I question if ever he walked a ship's deck, 
Or felt the soft spray on his cheek or his 

neck; 
And surely those blue eyes never have 

scanned 
The far-off horizon for long-looked-for land. 
What odds if never the sea he has crossed. 
In a tub of a boat been rudely tossed ? 
He tosses the sea in a tub of his own, 
While the waves dash high and the women 

make moan ! 

39 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



The most wonderful cruiser ever afloat 

Is the world — she is truly a marvellous boat ! 

And sailing out on the sea of Time, 

So tempest-tossed, to another clime. 

It is sweet to think that such sailors are 

As Nautical Ned, the jolly young tar ! 

With the great, good Captain, and such as 

these, 
Who cares for the Avind-swept stormy seas ? 



40 



My Rival 



MY RIVAL 

HER heart was all mine until he 
came along, 
My rival, the hero of this little 
song. 
With so much against him I marvel that he 
For even a moment can dispossess me. 
He is not so tall by some inches (my height 
For a number of years has been her de- 
light). 
Has never the sign of a beard on his chin 
And the hair on his head is decidedly thin ; 
Yet, the very first time she sslw him, she 

said, 
" The darling, I love him ! " and tears for 
joy shed. 

His eyes they are blue, and blue eyes in a 

man 
She detests as only a good woman can ; 
Regarding his teeth, about them the less 

said 
The better — he has not a tooth in his head ! 
41 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



He not only chews gum but chews gums, 

which is w^orse, — 
A sin she abhors as a positive curse. 
My rival ? I smiled — a ridiculous thought ! 
And into her presence the strange prince 

brought, 
And the very first moment she saw him she 

said, 
"The darling, I love him! " and tears for joy 

shed. 

My rival ! Believe me, I love him full well 
Or defects in his make-up I never would tell. 
The place he has taken I want him to keep. 
Close, close to her heart ! — Hear her sing 

him to sleep I 
And yet, notwithstanding, I want you to 

know 
He's a rival unrivalled. Go search high and 

low 
(Don't look in your cradle for any such joy) 
And find if you can such a sweet baby boy. 
ISTo wonder the moment she saw him she 

said, 
" The darling, I love him ! " and tears for 

joy shed. 

42 



Grandmother's Sweetheart 



GRANDMOTHER'S SWEET- 
HEART 

GEANDMOTHER'S sweetheart, here 
is a line 
She sendeth thee for a valentine. 
Loving thee more than her heart can tell 
(I wonder if you love her so well ?) 
With every letter she sends a kiss. 
Her eyes grow dim while she's writing this, 
For, Sweetheart Fanny, you must know 
It raaketh the heart ache loving so. 

Grandmother's sweetheart liveth afar 
Down by the bay where the big ships are, 
And never a ship does grandmother see 
But beareth her message of love to thee. 
The whole great wonderful fleet of ships 
That lie at rest in their quiet slips. 
With their caverns and caves of space all 

told 
The love that she bears thee could not hold. 
43 



l^he Rock-a-hye Book 



So, Sweetheart Fanny, a little while 
Grandmother's love on thee will smile ; 
Then, drifting out on an unknown sea, 
In the great beyond she will wait for thee. 
And others will come and praise your eyes, 
And tell their love with a million sighs ; 
But never a one of them all will know 
A deeper love than her heart can show. 




44 



Mother Goose 



MOTHER GOOSE 

THERE'S a book we all know and 
can quote by the page, 
No other book stands in its place ; 
In childhood, in manhood, in youth, and in 
age. 
Its jingling wisdom we trace. 
'Tis a book that we love (you'll do well to 
confess) 
No matter what others we use. 
And its title is— what? Now couldn't you 
guess ? 
Of course ! It is old Mother Goose. 

The first time you read it you skipped all 
the words. 
The pictures alone took your eye ; 
Those wonderful pictures of beasts and of 
birds. 
Of creatures that crawl, walk, or fly ; 
You cared not a bit for the wisdom and wit, 

Nor detected the rhyming was loose — 
On the floor by the hour you would silently sit 
Enchanted by dear Mother Goose. 
45 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



There was Old King Cole, the merry old 
soul, 
And Miss Muffet with curds and whey ; 
The men who went sailing the sea in a 
bowl, 
And the lady-bug idling away ; 
There was Little Boy Blue, and Jack 
Horner too, 
And Miss Flinders who suffered abuse ; 
And the birds in the pie, and Cry, Baby, 
Cry- 
They're still living in good Mother Goose. 



Mother Goose does not rank very high in 
the list 
Of best books — oh, give her a prop ! 
Come help me to maintain her claims — to 
insist 
That she's given a place near the top. 
There may be some better (how many are 
worse !) 
Her maligners will cry for a truce 
If we take up her standard and stoutly re- 
hearse 
The glories of good Mother Goose. 
46 



Suppose 



SUPPOSE 

SUPPOSE you were reading some won- 
derful tome 
That led you way back in the past, 
Till with feasting and fighting in Athens or 
Rome 
You'd forget in what age you were cast ; 
Suppose while thus " busy " you heard a wee 
voice 
And felt a small hand on your knee, 
Would the world of the present or past be 
your choice 
At the sound of that little "take me"? 
6>A, come now ! Be honest ! What would 

you do f 
You'd " take " Tiny Toddler and hug A^m 
to you. 

Suppose you had been in the city all day, 

In the trouble and turmoil of trade, 
Till your brain was so weary you felt the 
dismay 
Of an overtaxed surface-car jade ; 
47 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



Suppose you were smoking and taking your 

ease, 
And in should come little Boy Blue 
To " play horsey " with papa, and " wouldn't 

he please 
To kick up " and such antics go through ? 
Oh^ come now ! Be honest ! What would 

you do f 
You^d jprance and '•'play horsey " with little 

Boy Blue ! 

Suppose you were thinking of serious things, 

Of questions mortality asks, 
Till life, with the problems perplexing it 
brings, 
Seemed a round of impossible tasks ; 
Suppose while thus puzzled, a frown on your 
brow 
And your face looking solemn and grim. 
Little laddie insists you shall be a " bow- 
wow " 
Or sing " Hey, diddle, diddle ! " to him ! 
Oh^ come now ! Be honest ! What would 

you do f 
You'd " harh " or recite Mother Goose, 
wouldnH you ? 
48 



The Penny 



THE PENNY 

" T F I have a penny, pray, what do I do 
I with it?'' 

JL Forthwith you'd be off to buy some- 
thing for you with it ! 
Now, isn't it funny how each penny goes, 
And stranger than fiction that nobody 
knows 
What becomes of the penny ! 

The penny's not lost ; it's still going about. 
And its nimbleness keeps it from growing 

too stout ; 
It scarcely finds time to get warm in a 

pocket 
Before busy hands from its comfort unlock it, 
And then goes the penny. 

Now over the counter, exchanged for a cake ; 
Now into a box for the poor heathen's sake ; 
Now dropped on the curb in exchange for a 

paper 
A penny oft causes a dime's worth of " ca- 
per" — 
Not a " cent," but a "penny." 
49 



T^he Kock-a-bye Book 



There's money and money, but never a 

" cent " 
Except by a cold-blooded miser was spent. 
A "penny" they call it who spend it for 

fun — 
A penny ! a penny ! Now run for it ! run ! — 
Where is the penny ? 




50 



Thanksgiving 



THANKSGIVING 

UP-STAIKS in his trundle bed sleeps 
a child, 
Grown weary with hours of pleas- 
ure; 
All day has his face like a sunbeam smiled 

Till he seemed a golden treasure ; 
And I have been watching his winsome 
ways 
And listening to his prattle, 
While the joy I have felt would crown the 
days 
Of a soldier loving battle. 

In his bed he lies sleeping ; the tireless feet 

That busily nowhere travel. 
And the hands, with a touch so passing 
sweet 
They knotty brows unravel, 
Are at rest; and the voice, like a silvery 
bell. 
Or the babble of brooks aflowing, 
For the time is still, and all is well, 
With thanksgiving heavenward going. 
51 



T^he Rock-a-bye Book 



Thank God for the little one given to me ; 

For the child I would love so wisely 
His hands should ever cleanly be, 

His feet ever tread precisely, 
And his voice be raised mankind to call 

To God's and nature's glory. 
Away from the darkness, dimming all, 

To the light of ancient story. 




52 



y ingle and J angle 



JINGLE AND JANGLE 

JINGLE and Jangle are two little bells 
That jingle and jangle all day ; 
And Jingle rings sweet, with an accent 
that tells 
Of lightsomeness, promise, and May ; 
Sunshine and sugar and honey and bees, 

Rainbows and butterflies' wings, 
Bird-songs and brook-songs and wide-spread- 
ing trees — 
Oijoy little Jingle-bell sings ! 

Jingle and Jangle are two little bells 

That jingle and jangle all day ; 
And Jangle rings harsh, with an accent 
that tells 
Of darkness, foreboding, dismay ; 
Storm-cloud and vinegar, wormwood and 
gall, 
Toads' tongues and poisonous things. 
Owlets and ravens, and dreams that ap- 
pall — 
Of woe little Jangle-bell rings ! 
53 



The Rock-a-bye Book 



Yes, Jingle and Jangle are two little bells 

That jingle and jangle all day ; 
And the one that you listen to strangely 
compels 

Behaviour that's sure to betray. 
So listen to Jingle and be a good boy — 

To Jangle, oh, never give ear, 
And your days will be merry and bubble 
with joy, 

While sadness will never come near. 



t 



54 



Lore; 



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